by Anura Guruge
Analysis of the 24 who will be created cardinals at the November 20, 2010 consistory. Posted October 23, 2010.
Of course, I am preparing all sorts of new charts and analysis for the consistory. Did you expect any less?
Well, this is what struck me the MOST … and you should also seriously think about it.
I have been comparing numbers since when the Benedict XVI (#266) was elected in April 2005 and now.
[ The pre-announcement data << here >>]
Right now we are seeing a 5:1 discrepancy in the growth of non-electors and the size of the College!
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Yes, between 2005 and this consistory the increase in the number of electors is just 4. Yes, just 4. There were 117 electors in total when Benedict XVI was elected.
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On Saturday, November 20, 2010, barring other eventualities, we will have 121 electors — one more than the 120 limit for cardinal electors set in 1973.
But, in that same time the College has grown by 20 cardinals — this having to do with cardinals turning 80 and ceasing to be electors.
So we have achieved an increase of 4 electors … while the size of the College increased by 20.
This 120 limit, as I have already articulated, is going to become a even greater problem.
The growth of the College exceeds that of the worldwide growth of Catholics by quite a margin. I already graphed it for you.
Here is a chart of the growth of the College that clearly highlights the problem:
Growth of the College of Cardinals by Anura Guruge. Click to ENLARGE.
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